Ditching and tile-laying machine



3 sheets-sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. T. DOUGINE. DITGHING AND TILE LAYING MACHINE. N0. 333,114. Patented Deo. 29

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-#Sheet 2.

J. T. DOUGINE. DITUHING AND TILE LAY-ING MACHINE.

N0.333,114. Patented Deo. 29, 1885.

Figli Figa? N. PE ERS, Photo-Wvgnphlr. Wa'lhington, D4 Cy 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' (No Model.)

J. T. DOUGINB.

DITCHING AND TILE LAYING MACHINE. No. 333,114.

Patented Dec. 29, 1885.

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UNiTn STATES ATENT Frio..

DITCHING AND TILE-LAYING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,114l dated December 29, 1885.

Application filed February 16, 1885. Serial No. 156,078.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it' known that I, JAMES T. DOUGINE, a lcitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago,in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ditching and Tile-Laying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for digging ditches and laying tile therein.

In this class of machines heretofore great f difculty has been experienced in cleaning or discharging the clay or dirt from the buckets, owing to its sticky character. This I overcome by a very simple device,consisting of a pivoted blade or scoop, which enters each bucket as it passes around the upper sprocketwheel and discharges its contents.

The tile in my invention are delivered to the bottom of the ditch, as it is dug, by a curved tube or spout of sufficient length or height, so that the column of tile therein will by their own gravity cause the separate tile to issue at the bottom in close contiguity, end to end. This curved pipe is mounted so as to slide or telescope in a pivoted ring, so that, whatever the depth of the ditch or the inclination of the elevatorframe, the lower end of this tile-laying spout will remain in a horizontal position. The dirt is discharged from the elevator, either directly therefrom or through a suitable discharge pipe or spout, in such position in relation to the lower end of the tile-laying spout that the dirt will fall thereon, and thus not only hold the tile in position as they issue from the spout, but in a measure serve to pull the tile out of the pipe. A tread-power is employed to operate the elevator, and also to propel the machine forward as the ditch is dug. A steam or other engine may, however, be used in place of the tread, if desired.

The invention also consists in the novel devices and novel combinations of devices herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specific-ation, and in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings, Figure lis a side l elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken in front of the (No model.)

elevator. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation, looking toward the rear,of the swiveling frame and bucket-discharge. Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken centrally at right angles to Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 are side and rear elevations of the windlass for regulating the depth of thev cut.

In said drawings, A represents the frame of the machine, mounted on the drive-wheels A atthe rear end and on the steering-wheels A2 at the front end thereof.

Bis an endless-chain 'elevator furnished with buckets b and mounted on sprocket-wheels B on the elevator-frame B2.

C is a tread-mill, engine, or other source of power, mounted on the frame of the machine, and by which power is communicated both to the ditch-cutter or elevator B and to the driving-wheels A to propel the machine forward as the ditch is excavated. y

D is an inclined curved spout or tile-guide, by which the tile are automatically conveyed and delivered at the bottom of the ditch in a horizontal position and laid therein.

E is a' dischargespout for delivering the dirt or excavated material back into the ditch or to t-he side thereof, as may be desired. Its relation to the tile-laying spout D is or should be such that the discharged dirt willfall upon the lower extremity of said spout, and thus not only prevent the tile from moving laterally when delivered from said spout, but also, by falling upon the end of the tile, serve to pull them out of the spout and prevent their dragging forward.

The upper end of the elevator-frame B2 is secured to and supported in a swiveling frame, F, having bearingsf at its upper and lower ends on the cross-frame pieces A3, extending between the vertical standards A4 of the main frame.

Power is communicated from the tread-mill to the upper driving sp rocket-wheel, B', of the 95 excavator by means of a sprocket-chain, f', extending from wheel c on the driving-shaft c of the tread-mill to wheel f2 on shaft f3, bevel-gearf4 thereon meshing with bevel-gear f5 on the short vertical shaft f, which extends IOO through the hollow pivot or bearingf of the swiveling frame, gearf7 thereon meshing with gearfE on shaft f, and bevelgearfw on shaft ffJ meshing with bevel-gearf11 on the shaft]cl2 of the sprocket-wheel B. The lower end of the elevator-frame B2 is suspended by the cords H from the windlass H', journaled on the brackets l1 on the main frame. The windlass is turned one way or the other, to raise or lower the ditcher and regulate the depth of the cut from time to time, as may be required, by means of a hand-wheel or crank, IL', the shaft h2 oi' which is furnished with a worin, h3, that engages a toothed wheel, la, on the windlassshaft.

rlhe tile-delivering spout D is preferably made about quadrant-shaped, and it is suspended at its upper end in a swivel-ring, d, pivoted by pins or screws d to the yokebracket D', which is secured to the elevator` frame B2. The spout D maybe set or iixed at any desired position ln the ring d, according to the depth of the ditch, by means ofthe set-screw d2; and, whatever the depth of the ditch or the position of the frame B2, owing to the curved form of the spout, the lower end of it, which rides loosely upon the bottom of the ditch, will occupy approximately a horizontal position and deliver the tile into the ditch in a level and proper position. As the spout is mounted directly upon the elevatorframe, its position will always be governed thereby, and thus not be affected by any inequalities in the surface of the ground over which the machine runs. By reason of tbe swivel or pivot the lower end of the spout will always rest smoothly upon the bottoni of the ditch. Ordinarily in operation the set-screw d2 is not tightened, so that the spout can telescope or slide up and down through the ring (Z, as the distance from the ring to the bottom ofthe ditch varies according to the changing inclinations of the elevator-frame B2, and thus, by means of a telescoping and swiveling or pivoted curved spout, I am enabled to deliver the tile at all times in a level or horizontal position into the bottom of the ditch. The dischargepipeE is furnished with a hopper or env largement, E,atits upper endtoreceivethedirt as itis delivered from the buckets b. The back side of the hopper, adjacent to the sprocketwheel B' of the elevator', is cut away to allow the passage of the buckeisas indicated in Fig. 7. The dirt Vor material excavated,which frequently is of a very sticky character-as, for example, black mud or moist clays, especially when very moist--is cleaned or discharged from the buckets b positively by means of a pivoted discharge scoop or paddle, K, the end or point of which traverses the back or bottom of the bucket as each bucket passes over the upper sprocket-wheel. The blade or scoop K or its cnd should correspond in shape to l,that of the bucket, and if the bucket has resented at la, to correspond to such ribs or divisions and tit astride the same. The blade K is or should be pivoted somewhat above the upper line of the buckets as they pass over the sprocket-wheel, so that the blade will enter the outer edge of the bucket on an incline. As the bucket revolves around its sprocketwheel, the end ofthe blade will follow the back or bottom of the bucket, and thus turn the blade on its pivot, until, when the blade stands radially or on a line with the center of the sprocket-wheelB, the end ofthe blade will have reached the inner or lower edge of the bucket and stand directly across its` face, thus completely discharging :its contents. As the bucket continues to revolve,it will be carried past the end ofthe blade, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 7, when the pivoted blade will be restored to its original position, readywfor the next bucket.

K is a bracket secured to the swiveling frame F, upon which bracket the bucket-discharger K is pivoted or hinged by the bolt k. A spring, K, serves to restore the pivoted blade K to its position against the stop or cross-arm K3, and also to hold itin position against the advancing bucket and cause it to properly enter and clear the same. If the blade is, however, setat the proper inclination, little, if anything, will be required of the spring but to pull the blade back against its stop K3, and though the pivoted blade may be made of any suitable shape, I deem an ordinary dat plate the best, as wellas cheapest.

The tread-mill or power C may be of any ordinary construction, and, if preferred, a steam or other engine may be used for driving the machine.

The brake-wheel C of the tread-power is furnished with a strap friction-brake, c, operated by a lever, el", th rough a rod, c, which should extend to near the front or steering end of the machine, so that the operator may conveniently regulate the speed of the machine or stop it when required.

The drive-wheels A are operated to cause the machine to advance, as fast as the ditch is opened, by means of a bevel-gear, c, on the shaft c4, which is provided with a worm, c5, that meshes with a toothed gear, c, on the shaft c7. This shaft c7 is furnished with sliding clutches es, that engage the loose sprocketwheels from which the chains cw pass around the wheels A', and thus cause them to revolve.

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The clutches cE cs are simultaneously operated from near the front end of the machine by means of the long crank-rod L, which is provided with opposite arms Z, connected with the clutch-levers Z by the rods Z2.

The machine is guided or steered, as re- IBO front axle, passes a chain, m2, so that the axle bridge, over which the horses or animals may be led into the tread.

In order to indicate the depth of the ditch when passing over uneven ground, and to enable the operator to keep the bottom of the ditch at the proper grade, notwithstanding inequalities over which rst one end and then the other of the machine may pass, l provide it with a plumb line, O, suspended from a standard, O, and a graduated arc,'0, both mounted on the elevator-fra me B, so that the deliection of the zero-point ofthe arc from the plumb-line will indicate when one end of the machine is elevated or depressed, and thus show the operator that the end of the ditcherframe Bl should be raised or lowered by the windlass H.

Though the pivoted bucketdischarger Kis specially designed for use upon elevators of ditehing-niachines, it is obvious that the same device is applicable to other elevators, and to discharging from buckets any kind of sticky or adhesive material that will pack in or not readily be discharged from the bucket; and I do not wish to be limited to the use of this device upon ditching-machines.

The elevator-frame B2 is provided with a graduated scale, p, to indicate the number of feet the lower end of the elevator is depressed below the frame A or the depth of the ditch being cut. Of course, it will be understood that a counterpoise is an equivalent for the spring K2 for operating the pivoted blade K.

I claiml. The improved ditching and tiling machine, consisting in the combination of an excavating elevator or ditch cutter, with a curved tile-laying spout suspended therefrom, a discharge spout adapted and arranged to deliver the dirt or excavated material upon the lower or rear end of said tile-laying spout and upon the tile issuing therefrom, a tread or other power for operating said elevator, driving-wheels, mechanism operated by said power to propel the machine forward as the ditch is cut, and steeringwheels and mechanism for operating the same, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with an excavating elevator or ditcher, of a tilelaying spout suspended therefrom, substantially as specified.

3. rlhe combination, with an excavating elevator or ditcher, of a quadrant-shaped tilelaying spout, the lower end of said spout occupying a horizontal position, while its upper end remains vertical, whereby the tile are delivered into the ditch in a horizontal position by their own-gravity, and said spout being suspended from said elevator, substantially as specified.

4; The combination, with an excavating elevator or ditcher, of a quadrant-shaped tilelayingl spout, the lower or rear end of which extends back of the point of discharge, so that as the dirt is discharged from said elevator it will fall upon the rear end of said spout and upon the tileissuing therefrom, and thus serve to pull the tile from the spout, and to prevent their being drawn forward by the advancing spout, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with an excavating elevator or ditcher, of a quadrant-shaped tilelaying spout suspended pivotally therefrom substantially as specified.

6. The combination, with an excavating elevator or ditcher, of a curved telescopic pivoted tile-laying spout, substantially as speciiied.

7. The combination, with an excavating elevator or ditcher, of a curved spout and a pivoted ring from which said spout is suspended, substantially as specied.

8. The combination of excavating elevatorframe B2, bracket D, ring d, and curved tilelaying spout D, substantially as specified.

9. The combination of a curved sliding tilelayiiig spout, C, with a pivoted ring in which it is mounted, substantially as specified.

10. The combination of an endless belt or chain bucket-elevator with a vibrating pivoted or hinged bucket-clearer blade or scoop and a stop to limit its upward vibration, substantially as specified.

11. The combination of an endless belt or chain bucket-elevator with a pivoted or hinged bucketelearer blade or scoop and a spring for restoring the saine to position, substantially as specified.

12. The combination of an endless belt 01 chain bucket-elevator with a pivoted or hinged bucketclearer blade or scoop, and a spring for restoring the same to position, and a stop or rest to limit its backward movement, substantially as specified.

l 13. The combination of endless elevatorchain B, having buckets b, sprocket-wheel B', stationary bracket K', bucket-clearing blade K, pivoted thereto, stop or rest c, and spring la, substantially as specified.

14. The combination, with a swiveling frame, of an endless-chain elevator having its endmounted therein, and a vibrating pivoted bucket-clearer, K, mounted on yan arm or bracket extending from said swiveling frame, and a stop to limit the upward vibration of said bucket-clearer, substantially as specified.

15. The combination of an excavatingvelevat or mounted on a carriage with a curved tilelaying spout, a windlass for raising and low,..-

ering the digging end of said elevator, a discharge-pipe, a pivoted bucket-clearer blade,

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i 17. The bucket-discharge consisting of the i Witnesses:

18. The combination, with the drivingshaft io c', of' the gears c3, shaft c", Worm c5, gear c, shaft c7, sprocket-wheel c, chain el, and drivewheels A', carrying said chain, substantially as specified.

JAMES T. DOUGINE.`

pivoted blade K, in combination with spring K2 and stop K3, substantially as specified.

H. M. MUNDAY, EDMUND ADCOCK. 

